Hibiscus plant named &#39;xanthe&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Xanthe’, characterized by its upright, mounding and bushy plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large golden yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical Designation:

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar Denomination:

‘XANTHE ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Xanthe’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractive and long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2010 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code designation GB 2008-4068, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code designation GB 2007-0502, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark since September, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Xanthe’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Xanthe’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, mounding and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large golden yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored         centers.     -   5. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection         differ in flower bud color as plants of the male parent         selection have green-colored flower buds.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have light yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Boreas Yellow’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,060. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Boreas Yellow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus were cordate in shape         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Boreas Yellow’ were more reniform         in shape.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Boreas Yellow’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Boreas Yellow’ had bright         yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Xanthe’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical developing flower buds and a typical open flower of ‘Xanthe’. The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical dissected flower of ‘Xanthe’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time eight weeks after planting and plants were 26 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Xanthe’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2008-4068, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2007-0502, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close             to 158A, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Container plant; upright, mounding             and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about             five to eight lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 147A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to N199A and 197A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous.         -   Length.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cordate, rounded.         -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; somewhat leathery.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Scattered pubescence; venation             prominent.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 136A; venation,             close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137B; venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with             numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly             upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during             the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in             the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants             begin flowering about 12 to 16 weeks after pinching.         -   Flower longevity.—Excellent flower longevity, flowers last             for about four to five days; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 16 cm to 20 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 10 cm to 11 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about             three days. Length: About 5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm             to 3 cm. Shape: Ovoid to elliptical. Color: Close to 160A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl; petals             imbricate. Length: About 10 cm to 11 cm. Width: About 8 cm             to 9 cm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous;             rough with a velvety appearance. Texture, lower surface:             Glabrous, rough with a satiny appearance. Luster, upper             surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Slightly glossy.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 12A; towards             the base, close to 53A. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 16B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 13A; towards             the base, close to 53A; with development, main color             becoming closer to 12A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 16B; with development, color becoming closer to 8C.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a             campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 3 cm to 3.3 cm.             Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous,             rough. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous, smooth. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to             144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:             Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             more than 100. Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color:             Close to 11A. Anther shape: Rounded to ovate. Anther length:             About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 19A. Amount of             pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium:             Pistil length: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Style length: About 5 cm             to 6 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to             4B. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded stigma pads.             Stigma color: Close to 17C. Ovary color: Close to 149D.         -   Seeds.—Quantity produced per flower: About 1 to 15. Length:             About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 202A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to have tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Xanthe’ as illustrated and described. 